Pencil sharpener



May 17, 1955 R. B. FLEMING PENCIL SHARPENER Filed June 10, 1952 FIG.

INVENTOR.

ROBERT B.FLEM|NG BY w 51 K x AGENTS United States Patent PENCILSHARPENER Robert B. Fleming, Van Nuys, Califi, assignor to Rudolph J.Wittek, Van Nuys, Calif.

Application June 10, 1952, Serial No. 292,655 3 Claims. (Cl. 120-89) Myinvention relates generally to pencil sharpeners and more particularlyto a sharpener adapted for providing a sharp conical point on thegraphitic cylinder of a pencil, or alternatively providing a chiselpoint thereon.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a single device whichcan be used for alternatively sharpening the graphatic cylinder of apencil to a configuration as stated immediately above, whereby draftsmenand others can quickly acquire the desired character of point dictatedby the type of lining to be done. It is for this reason that the presentinvention has been and is properly referred to as two-way sharpener.

An ancillary object of this invention is to provide a sharpener whichcan be adjusted by shifting the op posing weights to difierent angularrelationships and with different spacings, the body member of the devicehaving shoulders which hold the lower edges of the blades in place whilethe upper edges of the blades are held by simple clamping means afteradjustment to suit the needs of the user.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sharpener having a ventextending along the body member adjacent to the line of convergence ofthe blades, so that the graphitic material shaved from the pencils canescape to prevent clogging of the sharpener.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved patternof serrations on the blades, the serrations converging toward a planeextending transversely of the blades, so that these serrations are morenearly parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pencil when beingsharpened, it having been found in practice that the average user ofthis device tends to rock the pencil in a slight are rather than movethe same in a strictly horizontal direction.

Another object, ancillary to the immediately preceding object, is toprovide a pattern of serrations which is very eflicient in promotingimmediate escape of the graphitic shavings, since these shavings tend tobe driven toward the center of the escape vent.

Finally, it is an object of this invention to provide a device of thischaracter which is extremely inexpensive and practicable to manufacture,simple, safe and convenient to use, and which will give generallyefficient and durable service.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elementsand portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in thespecification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illus tratedin the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the assembled device;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially onthe line 22 in Fig. l, the figure being on a slightly enlarged scale,and the handle being fragmentarily shown; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially onthe line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

2,708,423 Patented May 17, 1955 tion and throughout the differentfigures in the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail the illustrated embodiment of myinvention includes a body member 10 having an integral handle portion12. The body member and handle may be constructed of wood, plastic orany other suitable material, and the particular configuration of thebody member and handle is immaterial. Ordinarily, however, the bodymember will be an elongated flat element with a slot 14 extendinglongitudinally thereof. This slot 14 will have converging sides 16 andwill be in communication with a vent 18, which may be considered acontinuation of the slot 14, and the slot may be considered as extendingcompletely through the body member 10. The ends of the vent 18 arepreferably rounded as indicated at 20 in Fig. 2, to prevent accumulationof shavings therein, and a pair of file blades, generally indicated at22, are mounted in the slot 14, with their lower edges resting uponshoulders 24 at the ends of the vent 18. The lower edges of the bladesare identified by the numeral 26, and the upper edge portions of thesesame blades is identified by the numeral 28, these upper edge portionsbeing engaged by clamping washers 30 which are screwed down tightly uponthe ends of said upper edge portions 28, by means of screws 32.

It is important to note that the blades 22 can be held in a variety ofpositions within the slot 14, Fig. 3 illustrating the positioning of theblades 22 wherein these blades are supported entirely by said shoulders24 and clamping washers 30. In other words, the blades can be spacedfrom the inclined sides 16 of the slot 14, to give the desired spacingand desired angular relationship of the blades to achieve the desiredpoint configuration.

It will be noted that the blades 22 converge at their lower edges 26 butdo not contact each other, so that a space is left therebetween forescape of graphite shavings to the vent 18. The serrations 34, 34 oneach of the abrading surfaces of the blades 22 also converge toward aplane which is normal to the longitudinal axes of the blades. Thisconfiguration of the serrations is provided in view of the fact that theaverage user of this device tends to rock the pencil in a slight arerather than in a true horizontal direction, and the serrations are thusmade to be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pencilduring the sharpening operation. The convergence of the serrations alsoaids in elimination of the graphitic shavings and tends to preventclogging of the device.

The operation of this invention will be clearly understood from aconsideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical detailsthereof, taken in connection with the drawing and the above recitedobjects. In recapitulation, however, it may be added that the user ofthe device may readily choose the type of point he desires, and merelyrock the pencil longitudinally of the slot 14 without rotating thepencil when he desires a chisel point, or simultancously rotating thepencil as the rocking motion is continued to achieve a true conicalsharp point.

In view of the comparative simplicity of this invention, it is believedthat further description is unnecessary. Minor variation from theillustrated embodiment of this invention may be resorted to withoutdeparture from the spirit and scope of the appended claims whichproperly define this invention.

I claim:

1. A pencil sharpener comprising an elongated body member having anupper face and a lower face, a slot extending longitudinally of the bodymember and extending from the upper face thereof deeply into said bodymember, said body member having end portions whereby both ends of saidslot are closed, opposed seats within said slot and adjacent each end ofthe slot, a pair of similar blades within said slot extendinglongitudinally thereof and seated on said seats, said blades havingabrading surfaces on their adjacent sides, said blades downwardlyconverging transversely of the body member with the lower edges of theblades slightly spaced apart, a pair of clamping washers on the upperface of said member and having portions extending partially over eachend of said slot, elongated threaded elements securing said washers tosaid end portions of the body member, said portions of the washersengaging the upper end portions of the blades for adjustably holdingsaid blades in position.

2 A pencil sharpener comprising an elongated body member having an upperface and a lower face, a slot extending longitudinally of the bodymember and extending from the upper face thereof deeply into said bodymember, said body member having end portio s whereby both ends of saidslot are closed, opposed seats within said slot and adjacent each end ofthe slot, a pair of similar blades Within said slot extendinglongitudinally thereof and seated on said seats, said blades havingabrading surfaces on their adjacent sides, said blades downwardlyeonverging transversely of the body member with the tow r e ge of the bd h y spaced apart, a pa of clamping Washers on the upper face of saidmember and having portions extending partially over each end of saidslot, elongated threaded elements securing said washers to said endportions of the body member, said portions of the washers engaging theupper end portions of the blades for adjustably holding said blades inposition, said body member having an opening in its lower surfacecommunicating with said slot and comprising a vent for shavings, saidopening extending longitudinally of the body member between said seats.

3. A pencil sharpener comprising an elongated body member having anupper face and a lower face, a slot extending longitudinally of the bodymember and extending from the upper face thereof deeply into said bodymember, said body member having end portions whereby both ends of saidslot are closed, opposed seats within said slot and adjacent each end ofthe slot, a pair of similar blades Within said slot extendinglongitudinally thereof and seated on said seats, said blades havingabrading sgriaces on their adjacent sides, said blades downwardlyconverging transversely of the body member with the lower edges of theblades slightly spaced apart, a pair of clamping washers on the upperface of said member and having portions extending partially over eachend of said slot, elongated threaded elements securing said washers tosaid end portions of the body member, said portions of the washersengaging the upper end portions of the blades for adiustably holdingsaid blades in position, said body member having an opening in its lowersurface communicating with said slot and comprising a vent fo s ing a opnin xtend ng ltmsi: tudinally of the body member between said seats,said abrading surfaces having serrations inclined slightly to, thevertical and converging toward the center of said opening and toward acommon vertical central transverse p so th n n pe a or r eks h Pl i1 s iht y during sharp ning he serrations ar substantial p rallel to thepencil point being sharpened.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS225,732 Suter Mar. 23, 1880 705,322 Cortis July 22, 1902 957,733 Brant:May 10, 1910 1,694,581 Cata Dec. 11, 1923 O E GN PA S 90,969 SwitzerlandOct. 6, '1920

